My Authority, God’s Word

God’s Word is not just a book we pick up from time to time to read a few passages to get us through. It is and should be the ultimate authority in our life. We should be looking to and living out the instructions found in God’s Word in all situations.

It is easy to pick and choose different passages when we “need” them or to “justify” some action that we have taken or are considering. But, if we are cherry picking passages we are not really obeying God’s Word as the authority it is. We are simply using God’s Word and not living it.

God’s Word is more than a collection of actions we can take to relieve some ailing we have. It is not just a collection of positive reinforcement actions to keep us moving in the right direction. God’s Word is a way of going through life at all times.

I am over 50 years old and see the value of God’s Word for my daily life. I study or am led in God’s Word seven days a week. I look for how His Word can lead me in life. I look for how I can apply His teachings daily. I know that God’s Word can do all things in my life. His Word accomplished all things and will accomplish all things. By full faith in His Word there is nothing that cannot be done.

“⁸But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.’” – Matthew 8:8 (ESV)

The centurion from the passage above knew that Jesus only need to speak healing to happen. He knew that Jesus was the authority and that as God, His Word would do as spoken. The centurion understood the authority that was God’s Word.

“¹²For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

I have to have the faith that God’s Word will do all things. It is not just there for me to pick up when “needed”. God’s Word should be in my bones and leading my every move. I have to lean on the authority of God’s Word to point me and guide me and lead me and protect me as I move along in this world.

What is your relationship to God’s Word? Are you using it to pick and choose how it can help you? What if you were to lean on God’s Word for all things and used it as your authority to point you, guide you, lead you, and protect you as you go along?

Follow the Real Jesus

I am going to get a bit controversial here for a minute. I don’t want to offend and imply anything, this is my own thoughts. I am not a fan of wearing a cross around my neck. I know many people do and it is their full decision to do so. I do not need the badge around my neck that can and will be seen and judged. I am not perfect and will always be a sinner. When others see the cross, the judging begins and there is potential, to me, for the immediate cynical thought of showing one thing and then doing other things. I know that I am cynical, but I will say that it does not come without reality. I have seen too often the distortion of Jesus to fit into the box we have for Him at that moment. Now, the real Jesus is not a cross. He died on a cross for my sins so that I would not have to. I pray that is the reason for the wearing of the cross.

In my study this morning we explore the “right” or real Jesus. James MacDonald points to caricatures to show how we “paint” Him to be something or a number of things. The caricatures are; Jesus is my buddy, my safety net or good luck charm, my religious artifact, my meal ticket, and/or my social conscience. Notice that the caricatures all point to Jesus as a thing. And, He is thought of as “mine” as if I somehow own Him and we can use Him when it pleases us our we find “need” to call on Him.

“³But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (ESV)

Paul points out to the church at Corinth the fickle nature we hold. We are subject to that which is in our view. We are concerned with acceptance of and hold back from reality. We are fascinated with the “truth of the moment” and less about the truth. The real Jesus is not a thing, He is more than my buddy, He is my friend. Jesus is not just my safety net or good luck charm, He is my guide and protector. Jesus is not my religious artifact, He is my LORD. Jesus is not my meal ticket, He is my master and I serve Him. Jesus is not my social conscience, He is the Truth.

We have to get to the place where Jesus is LORD and not just a thing. Jesus is not just part of our lives, He is the focus of our life. The real Jesus is not the “truth of the moment”, He is the Truth of our life.

James MacDonald writes, “The problem with a caricature is that the truth is in there, but it’s distorted by an emphasis of one thing to the exclusion of others.” It is the capture of the “truth of the moment” and not as just the truth. The real Jesus is The Truth and does not change with the moment. Oh, yes, Jesus does provide what we need when we need it, but He does not change to fit what we want out of a moment. He provides the truth that we can rely on forever.

How are you looking at Jesus? Do you see Him as a thing to help you make it from one point to another? What if you saw Him as real and The Truth as opposed to the “truth of the moment”?

The LORD Hears Our Desire

I have to believe that no matter the circumstances, the LORD hears my desire. He knows what is in my heart.

“¹⁷O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;

you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

¹⁸to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”

— Psalm 10:17-18 (ESV)

I am the afflicted. I am oppressed. It may not seem as such based on the world we live in today, but it is true. All who are devoted to following the LORD are or will be persecuted. I need the LORD to get through this world and all of the evil that is presented in it. The evil one is there continually and is looking for any moment to divert me away from the LORD. Whether it is in public, in the media, in private, evil is there lurking and waiting.

“¹⁶The Lord is king forever and ever;

the nations perish from his land.”

— Psalm 10:16 (ESV)

It is in the LORD that I find refuge. The LORD knows my desire. He knows it is difficult. He knows I need to rule over it. And this is the reason He hears my desire. I must desire Him and when I do, He hears my desire and comforts me. He protects me. He guides me. He loves me. He is king.

Where is your desire? Are you desiring in the world? What if you were to desire the LORD and allow Him to comfort you, protect you, guide you, and love you?